Latest news with #TCPA
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Medicaid Needs A Text Message Exemption Now
Man standing outside, texting. (Photo by) A fierce debate rages over the Big, Beautiful Bill (BBB) and its impact on Medicaid beneficiaries. While House Speaker Mike Johnson recently claimed millions "will not lose their Medicaid unless they choose to do so," the reality is the bill's work requirements will create administrative barriers that will result in coverage losses due to poorly informed Medicaid beneficiaries. These communication barriers can be addressed by modifications to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The TCPA, a decades-old law governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), prohibits automated text messages without prior consent. The law has created a culture of confusion and risk aversion in healthcare administration. Healthcare administrators like lawyers and compliance officers view text messaging as a litigation minefield, while patients and families who need timely, accessible communication freely use digital messaging for everything else. This creates a glaring disconnect: people communicate through text messaging across all demographics, including Medicaid beneficiaries, yet Medicaid managed care organizations and state agencies continue relying on antiquated communication methods because they fear litigation from murky TCPA regulations. The FCC has already provided guidance permitting digital communication for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment. However, this guidance needs to extend further and establish an explicit, indisputable exemption for all Medicaid programs and Medicaid-related services. This clarity will provide authority that helps prevent unnecessary coverage losses due to communication failures. It will also lead to a welcome alignment between how health agencies communicate and how people want to communicate. As new work requirements loom, we can either continue prioritizing risk management gray areas over beneficiary communication needs, or we can adapt our approaches to align with the digital channels people use and prefer. We don't need to speculate about the impact of poor communication with beneficiaries because we witnessed it recently. During the 2023 Medicaid redetermination process, people were required to re-enroll to demonstrate their eligibility. The problem wasn't eligibility; it was communication. According to Kaiser, half of Medicaid enrollees were unaware of the process or knew little about it. Millions lost coverage not because they were ineligible, but because they didn't know about re-enrollment deadlines or couldn't navigate the bureaucratic documentation requirements. Many only discovered they'd lost coverage when they showed up for medical care. These coverage losses were avoidable with better, more efficient communication. After 25 years serving a patient population that is 90-95% Medicaid beneficiaries, I understand these are busy people juggling multiple responsibilities. The majority work in gig economy jobs, minimum wage positions, or jobs that don't provide affordable health insurance. Many work multiple jobs and communicate primarily via text message. When Medicaid agencies rely on outdated methods like snail mail and email, critical information gets lost. We have an excellent, accessible tool to address these communication inefficiencies. It is text messaging and we are afraid to use it. To address texting limitations and improve communication with the Medicaid population, Abner Mason, a digital health entrepreneur and longtime advocate for text messaging in healthcare, aims to establish the Medicaid Texting Coalition. The coalition will collaborate with and advise federal agencies to exempt Medicaid from TCPA restrictions. Mason says, "Texting is the primary and preferred mode of communication for all Americans, including Medicaid beneficiaries, and we must use it to improve health outcomes and, if the time comes, to allow efficient communication to verify work status." If we care about reducing the impact of the BBB on Medicaid enrollment, an obvious and politically feasible strategy is to exempt Medicaid programs from TCPA restrictions immediately. The technology exists and the solution is straightforward. Medicaid needs a TCPA exemption now because the freedom to text is among our best hopes for minimizing the unnecessary impacts of potential work requirements.
Malaysian Reserve
4 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
EmpiRx Health Launches New Clinical Review Messaging Solution
New Text Notification Solution Strengthens the Pharmacy Care User Experience by Keeping Members Informed in Real-Time on the Status of Their Medications' Clinical Reviews MONTVALE, N.J., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EmpiRx Health, the leading pharmacist-led pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company, today announced the launch of a new Clinical Review Messaging solution that provides members with real-time updates on the status of their medications' clinical reviews. This innovative, easy-to-use solution elevates the overall pharmacy care experience by keeping members well informed of the approvals, partial denials, or denials of their medications during the review process. By keeping members continuously updated in real-time, the Clinical Review Messaging solution reduces confusion, enhances transparency, and fosters trust between members, clinicians, and providers. Exemplifying EmpiRx Health's deep commitment to client and member satisfaction and innovation in care delivery, Clinical Review Messaging demonstrates that behind every medication review is a collaborative and clinician-led effort to ensure the best possible patient health outcomes. Ensuring ease of use and removing barriers to access, EmpiRx Health's new Clinical Review Messaging solution makes it effortless for members to stay informed about their medication reviews, no matter where they are. Messages are delivered via SMS, so there's no need to download or learn how to use a new app. Members receive timely, important updates on their mobile phones in a simple and convenient way. 'We're excited to launch this new solution that offers members more peace of mind by helping them understand in real-time exactly where they are in the clinical review of their prescriptions,' said Kim Howland, Chief Product Officer, EmpiRx Health. 'Clinical Review Messaging is another strong example of EmpiRx Health's leadership in providing highly personalized pharmacy care that measurably improves patient health and well-being.' With regard to pricing, the Clinical Review Messaging solution is an affordable enhancement for plan sponsors looking to tangibly improve member communications and engagement. EmpiRx Health follows TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) Guidelines, with all messages being related solely to health-related items. Members must opt-in to receive text messages and can opt-out at any time. About EmpiRx Health EmpiRx Health is the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company that puts the pharmacist at the center of the pharmacy care model. Leveraging our AI-powered pharmacy care platform, Clinically™, EmpiRx Health's clinical pharmacists and client experience teams provide the highest quality care and service. This enables plan sponsors to measurably improve their member health outcomes while substantially reducing prescription drug costs. EmpiRx Health recently launched AllyRx, the first-ever national pharmacy care network specially designed for pharmacy and grocery retailers. With major offices in Montvale, NJ and Orlando, FL, EmpiRx Health celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. To learn more, visit More information on Clinically can be found at and AllyRx at Contact For EmpiRx Health: Stephanie Cox Phone: (201)775-6971 Email: scox@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EmpiRx Health Launches New Clinical Review Messaging Solution
New Text Notification Solution Strengthens the Pharmacy Care User Experience by Keeping Members Informed in Real-Time on the Status of Their Medications' Clinical Reviews MONTVALE, N.J., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EmpiRx Health, the leading pharmacist-led pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company, today announced the launch of a new Clinical Review Messaging solution that provides members with real-time updates on the status of their medications' clinical reviews. This innovative, easy-to-use solution elevates the overall pharmacy care experience by keeping members well informed of the approvals, partial denials, or denials of their medications during the review process. By keeping members continuously updated in real-time, the Clinical Review Messaging solution reduces confusion, enhances transparency, and fosters trust between members, clinicians, and providers. Exemplifying EmpiRx Health's deep commitment to client and member satisfaction and innovation in care delivery, Clinical Review Messaging demonstrates that behind every medication review is a collaborative and clinician-led effort to ensure the best possible patient health outcomes. Ensuring ease of use and removing barriers to access, EmpiRx Health's new Clinical Review Messaging solution makes it effortless for members to stay informed about their medication reviews, no matter where they are. Messages are delivered via SMS, so there's no need to download or learn how to use a new app. Members receive timely, important updates on their mobile phones in a simple and convenient way. "We're excited to launch this new solution that offers members more peace of mind by helping them understand in real-time exactly where they are in the clinical review of their prescriptions," said Kim Howland, Chief Product Officer, EmpiRx Health. "Clinical Review Messaging is another strong example of EmpiRx Health's leadership in providing highly personalized pharmacy care that measurably improves patient health and well-being." With regard to pricing, the Clinical Review Messaging solution is an affordable enhancement for plan sponsors looking to tangibly improve member communications and engagement. EmpiRx Health follows TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) Guidelines, with all messages being related solely to health-related items. Members must opt-in to receive text messages and can opt-out at any time. About EmpiRx Health EmpiRx Health is the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company that puts the pharmacist at the center of the pharmacy care model. Leveraging our AI-powered pharmacy care platform, Clinically™, EmpiRx Health's clinical pharmacists and client experience teams provide the highest quality care and service. This enables plan sponsors to measurably improve their member health outcomes while substantially reducing prescription drug costs. EmpiRx Health recently launched AllyRx, the first-ever national pharmacy care network specially designed for pharmacy and grocery retailers. With major offices in Montvale, NJ and Orlando, FL, EmpiRx Health celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. To learn more, visit More information on Clinically can be found at and AllyRx at Contact For EmpiRx Health: Stephanie Cox Phone: (201)775-6971 Email: scox@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE EmpiRx Health Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
John Henson Joins Pure CallerID Advisory Board, Bringing Executive GC Experience to Accelerate Responsible Growth
Former LendingTree and ConsumerAffairs legal leader deepens Pure CallerID's compliance strategy and enterprise risk bench. SHERIDAN, WY / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Pure CallerID, the B2B SaaS leader in real-time compliance, trusted engagement, and demand generation, today announced the appointment of John Henson to its Advisory Board. A seasoned in-house counsel with a decade of leadership experience at LendingTree and ConsumerAffairs, Henson brings unmatched insight into building compliant, scalable growth in regulated Henson As General Counsel at Henson led Legal, Compliance, Talent, and Culture, overseeing the company's marketing, lead generation, financial services, and reputation management practices. Before that, during his six-year tenure at LendingTree, he served as Vice President of Compliance, Interim General Counsel, and Assistant GM of the Mortgage vertical, where he built and enforced regulatory programs aligned with TCPA, UDAAP, and CFPB/FTC mandates - all while enabling high-velocity marketing operations at scale. Henson's experience spans both the legal and strategic sides of enterprise operations. From defending lead quality under regulatory scrutiny to embedding defensible practices across outbound outreach, his background fits seamlessly with Pure CallerID's mission to help organizations drive contact rates without risking brand or regulatory exposure. Henson is the founder of Henson Legal, PLLC, launched in 2025. He joins a growing Advisory Board that includes Mike Frost (Frost Echols LLC), Josh Langford, and Steve Plunkett, offering strategic guidance across legal, regulatory, PE, and CX domains. Comments on the News: Additional information can be found on the Pure CallerID blog. Benefits of the Pure CallerID service suite include: Contact InformationMedia Team Marketing Communications and Investor Relations (844) PURECID SOURCE: Pure CallerID LLC press release
Martechvibe
28-04-2025
- Business
- Martechvibe
Outdated Laws Are Holding Ecommerce Back
Ecommerce has transformed the way consumers shop and engage with brands, yet the legal frameworks governing digital marketing remain outdated and aren't keeping pace with technological innovations in the industry. Many of the regulations that apply to ecommerce businesses were established long before the rise of mobile commerce, SMS marketing, and the widespread adoption of online shopping. As a result, these laws are not only limiting innovation but are increasingly being exploited in costly and frivolous litigation. And while there needs to be laws and policies in place to protect consumers from true bad actors, ecommerce businesses should not be forced to operate under the constant threat of litigation for engaging in responsible, consumer-friendly marketing practices. How Outdated Laws are Hurting Businesses The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a prime example. Originally enacted to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls, the TCPA is now frequently misused in lawsuits targeting businesses — often in cases where consumers have explicitly opted in to receive communications. For instance, companies are facing costly litigation for sending marketing texts outside of designated 'quiet hours' (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), even though this law was intended to curb disruptive phone calls to landlines in the middle of the night or early mornings. Some plaintiffs' lawyers are trying to capitalise on the fear of TCPA litigation, filing hundreds of lawsuits against ecommerce brands that have obtained consent and forcing these businesses to engage in expensive legal battles and 5-figure settlements (which many small ecommerce companies can't afford), which would be a huge hit since ecommerce companies rely on SMS marketing to reach customers and make sales. Similar legal vulnerabilities exist within state 'mini-TCPA' laws such as the Florida Telephone Solicitations Act (FTSA) or the Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act (VTPPA). These laws have been manipulated to support lawsuits over hyper-technical violations. In one case, a plaintiff sought $800,000 in damages by opting into a brand's messages and then arguing that he should have been able to submit a hard copy opt-out request. ALSO READ: True Transformation is More Than Upgrading Technology Another lawsuit demanded $225,000 in damages, in part, because the sender's full first and last name was not included in the message—although the company's name was clearly displayed. These cases demonstrate how outdated voice-based laws that are then expanded to include text messaging can be leveraged in ways that do not serve consumer protection but instead create a legal minefield for businesses. The former US FCC Commissioner Mike O'Reilly, who has seen firsthand the challenges of these acts, from both the perspective of the consumer and from businesses, says, 'These laws were designed to protect consumers from real harm, not to serve as a tool for aggressive litigation against businesses that are following best practices.' 'The original intent of the TCPA, for example, was to stop intrusive robocalls—not to penalise brands that are engaging with customers who have actively opted in to receive their messages. Today, these laws are being twisted in ways that punish legitimate businesses for harmless technicalities. Reform is long overdue,' he adds. ALSO READ: How to Scale Retail Without Losing Brand Identity How Ecommerce Businesses Can Protect Themselves Given the increasing legal risks associated with SMS marketing and digital outreach, ecommerce businesses need to take proactive measures to ensure compliance while also advocating for necessary legal reforms. The first and most critical measure is ensuring compliance with existing regulations. This starts with obtaining explicit, documented consent from consumers before initiating any text-based marketing. Maintaining detailed records of consumer opt-ins, opt-outs, and message logs is essential to demonstrating compliance if a dispute arises. Additionally, all marketing communications should include clear disclosures, such as opt-out instructions, to ensure transparency and adherence to best practices. To stay ahead of potential risks, businesses should conduct regular audits of their SMS marketing programs, identifying and addressing compliance gaps before they escalate into costly legal challenges. However, compliance alone is not enough—regulatory change is essential to prevent bad actors from exploiting outdated laws. Ecommerce businesses must actively support initiatives that modernise regulations to better reflect today's digital economy. ALSO READ: Why Your Support and Success Teams Need to Merge A strong example of effective advocacy comes from the Ecommerce Innovation Alliance (EIA), which played a key role in the passage of Virginia SB 1339, closing legal loopholes that had enabled frivolous litigation under the Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act (VTPPA). Mike O'Reilly emphasises, 'If businesses don't step up and advocate for clear, modernised regulations, they will continue to operate under a legal framework that is not just outdated but actively harmful to responsible companies. Policymakers need to hear from the brands that are being impacted so that we can ensure consumer protection laws are serving their intended purpose.' To drive meaningful change, businesses should consider joining industry coalitions, engaging policymakers, and voicing their support for updates that bring greater clarity and fairness to digital communication laws. Finally, businesses should explore ways to resist the pressure to settle frivolous lawsuits, as doing so only encourages further exploitation. Many Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) lawsuits are built on weak claims, banking on businesses choosing to settle rather than endure a lengthy legal battle. Instead of conceding, companies should work with lawyers with deep experience in TCPA cases, carefully evaluate their legal standing, and leverage their compliance records as a strong defense. Organisations like the EIA are already working with regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to challenge abusive litigation and clarify compliance guidelines. By pushing back against bad-faith lawsuits, businesses can help prevent these laws from being weaponised against responsible companies and ensure that consumer protection laws serve their original purpose. The laws governing digital communications must evolve to reflect modern commerce while maintaining genuine consumer protections. However, meaningful change will require proactive engagement from the businesses affected by these outdated regulations. By strengthening compliance efforts, advocating for legislative reform, and challenging frivolous lawsuits, ecommerce companies can help create a legal environment that fosters innovation rather than stifling it. ALSO READ: Without Consent, AI Doesn't Scale—It Crashes The Martechvibe team works with a staff of in-house writers and industry experts. View More ecommerceLawsMessagingopt-insSMS marketingTCPA
